The Canucks have not only won three of their last four games, they have upset a segment of the populace that believes losing is good if you’re chasing the best possible draft-lottery odds. Of course, that doesn’t wash with the players. They grind night after night and the recent run of success speaks to how hard the injury-riddled roster is playing for first-year coach Travis Green. Tonight, against the Edmonton Oilers, they won’t play playoff spoiler, but they can play for each other and not the draftists. Imagine that?

TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650, 7 p.m.

THE BIG MATCHUP

Alex Edler versus Connor McDavid

Who gave Edler the keys to that DeLorean from Back to the Future? The defenceman has been transported back to when he punished opposition forwards, moved pucks smartly and got his shots on net. On Tuesday, in a 4-1 win over Anaheim, he logged an eye-popping 30:41, had two shots and four attempts, was plus-2 and blocked six shots. In the absence of Chris Tanev, who has been shut down for the season with a knee sprain, it’s Edler who has quietly accumulated 30 points (5-25) in 65 games. He had 21 and 20 points, respectively, in the last two seasons and a career-best 49 points (11-38) in 2011-12. Shutting down scoring leader McDavid, who has 102 points (40-62), is a tall task. He’s not only one of the fastest skaters, his ability to take passes at speed and either make a fabulous feed to his linemates or score a highlight-reel goal will also tax forwards on the back check and Edler to maintain his improving poise.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Keeping game Gaudette grounded

Adam Gaudette sounded like he wanted to take on the world in his first big media scrum. He vowed to play hard against the Oilers, hit everything in sight and show zero fear. That’s great. But he must channel his emotions and his game, and a fourth-line role and measured minutes are a good way to work the NCAA scoring leader into his first NHL game. But he’s pumped. “(Matt) Benning and I played together in my freshman year and he has already texted me and congratulated me. We were pretty close and won a championship.” And facing McDavid? “That was one of the first things I thought about — that would be pretty cool.” Gaudette has also been named with Henrik Borgstrom (Denver) and Ryan Donato (Harvard ) as a finalist for Hobey Baker Award as top NCAA player. It will awarded April 6.

2. Don’t worry, just let Bo be Bo

You wonder about a lot of players on any given night. You don’t worry about Bo Horvat. Aligned with Nikolay Goldobin and Jussi Jokinen on Tuesday, he did what good centres do. Not that it was always right. He passed on a high-slot shot to feed Goldobin in the corner. He fended off two defenders in the corner, spun and fed Jokinen in the slot, but he couldn’t corral the puck. Horvat drew a hooking minor on the effort and it was just another example of how he’s becoming the leader of the next wave. He didn’t have a point Tuesday, but he played the power play and the penalty kill, had two hits, blocked a shot and was 54 per cent in the circle against one of the league’s best faceoff teams.

3. Boucher really needs to finish

Reid Boucher has 25 AHL goals this season and one in 10 games during his latest recall from the Utica Comets. During this audition, the winger has shown a better compete level and has been stronger on pucks. In the first period Tuesday, he had two shots go wide and then fired a hotshot off the mask of goalie John Gibson and then pounced on his own rebound. He didn’t have another shot the rest of the way. Boucher also had three good scoring looks in Anaheim on March 14 in a 3-0 loss. What are we to make of this? Not sure. Travis Green probably feels the same way.

4. Keep Gagner with the twins

Two goals in three games doesn’t make a season, unless you’re Sam Gagner. He laboured through a 25-game goal drought. He has been hard on himself and has a hard time finding the right fit. Then he was aligned with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Green flirted with the trio in pre-season, but revolving right wingers sent Gagner to other lines as a centre or winger. He scored Tuesday with the twins after clicking with them Friday. Nine goals don’t cut it, but confidence does, especially with two more years left on his contract.

5. Archibald must keep grinding

Darren Archibald is part of an improving penalty kill that has gone 15-for-15 the last five games. He has found symmetry with Brandon Sutter. He was plus-3 Tuesday, had three hits and as assist. You’d like to think there are more than three goals in 23 games in his arsenal. He has to be more than just a physical deterrent to earn a contract next season to protect Elias Pettersson.